Florida on a budget

For many, visiting Florida is a once in a lifetime event. From couples to families, first-time visitors to older generations, the amazing sightseeing, sublime food and famous heat all combine to make the Sunshine State a destination well worth the investment.
With places like Orlando, Miami and Key West offering more and more to tourists each year, making your money stretch further is an agreeable solution all round.

Travel out of season

If Orlando and its amazing collection of theme parks are in your sights, travelling out of season won’t only mean greater access to rides but will also save you a pretty penny too.

Avoid travelling during summer (June to August) and visit Florida during a half-term holiday or otherwise. This way, you’ll pay a lot less for your flight and can place more funds in your spending money pot instead. Keep your eyes peeled for deals taking place from mid-January to early March, and September to the beginning of December.

Try alternative airports

One for the hardened savers out there but if you’re willing to accept onward travel to your final destination when touching down in Florida, flying to an alternative airport could save you hundreds of pounds.

If you’re basing your holiday in Miami, both Palm Beach International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport represent sound close by alternatives to Miami International Airport. Yes, you’ll have to complete some maths and may need a connecting flight but if the saving is large enough, it could be well worth it! Stay near the action

It sounds like common sense but basing yourself near the heart of action can save you loads of money! We typically have a few day trips in mind when travelling to Florida, whether it’s a live Orlando City SC soccer game or a visit to Busch Gardens in Tampa.

If the majority of your time will be spent in a particular area, stay in the nearby vicinity and avoid wasting funds on public transport.

Avoid renting a car

Although rental cars provide us with our own private transport to get from A to B, this expensive add-on can often tip the scale when it comes to pricing up your dream Florida holiday.

But fear not, thanks to the rise of services like Uber, visiting and relying on this cheaper form of taxi travel can actually remove the need for a car altogether. If exploring lesser-known Orlando appeals, the city’s SunRail train network offer round-trip fares from as little as $3.75.

Self-cater in style

Staying in a five-star flagship hotel right on Ocean Drive in Miami is awesome but nowadays, you can stay right around the corner for far less. Avoid all-inclusive packages and opt for a self-catering deal instead. With typically oversized American supermarkets like WalMart and Target never too far away, buying and cooking your own meals could save you hundreds of dollars.
What’s more, you could even make use of AirBNB, a hugely popular platform where anybody can temporarily rent a room or entire house for a set fee. Kill two birds with one stone and don’t only self-cater but stay in these self-contained houses that offer a reassuring sense of privacy compared to a typical hotel.

With enough willpower and research, both visiting and enjoying all Florida has to offer is made all the more satisfying when saving and making your funds stretch that little bit further in the Sunshine State.